Sheena's Blog: CEO of the Year

It is with great pleasure that I have been able to hijack this week’s blog to write about some wonderful news we received last week.

As I’m sure you are all aware by now, CWP chief executive Sheena Cumiskey was named CEO of the Year at the 2015 Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards, which took place in London last Wednesday.

Firstly, I’d just like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sheena on what is a truly tremendous personal achievement. The HSJ Awards are the largest celebration of UK healthcare, and for Sheena to receive such an accolade – one of the the most prestigious awards a healthcare lead can win - is a huge endorsement of her tireless work over the years to put the needs of patients first and to support strong NHS leadership.

What you may not know is that Sheena has been a chief executive in the NHS for 19 years (working in the health service for 32 years), and for the last two years she has been listed in the HSJ’s top 50 healthcare leads. Clearly, this latest accolade is an accumulation of many successes and achievements throughout a glittering career, and is a real reflection of a CEO at the top of her game.

It is no coincidence, that with Sheena at the helm, CWP has consistently been regarded one of the top performing mental health trusts in the country. We’re really proud of the fact that, for the last 2 CQC Community Mental Health Surveys (feedback that comes directly from service users about the standard of care they receive), CWP has achieved the best scores nationally.

The NHS is facing challenging times, and we know that there is growing pressure to do more with less. Services are changing and we all have to work a bit differently compared with before. What must stay the same, however, is our commitment to providing the best possible care for those who access our services. We have a chief executive that is now recognised as the best in the country, and I have 100% confidence that the compassionate and person-centred approach that Sheena has promoted and exemplified across the whole Trust will help CWP develop and thrive long into the future, despite an unclear national landscape.

I was lucky enough to have joined Sheena at last week’s awards ceremony and to share in her celebrations following her triumph. Although she was “gobsmacked” to be recognised with such an accolade, I think it’s fair to say that those who know her aren’t surprised at all.

Sheena, of course, has been quick to thank all staff following the award and has taken great joy in sharing this achievement with everyone that helps CWP be the best it can be. She is instrumental in ensuring mental health is treating with the attention it deserves, and I’m confident that I speak for everyone involved with the Trust when I say just how grateful we are to have such a special person leading the way at CWP.